“The Eagle's Prey” is Simon Scarrow's solid fifth volume in his "Eagle" series focused on roman military adventures in the early first century, AD. This is not the best of Scarrow's series, but it's an entertaining story of well-written action sequences held together by a reasonably solid, if not unique and totally cohesive, plot.If you're new the adventures of now-Centurions Macro and Cato, you should look to “Under the Eagle” (#1) and “The Eagle's Conquest” (#2) for the best in terms of character introduction and genuinely fun and detailed action/adventure. This book stands alone in a self-contained story with brief character introductions, but can't be enjoyed fully without having the foundation of the first two "Eagle" books.In "Prey", Macro and Cato are Centurions assigned to the 2nd Legion of the Roman Army. Led by Legate Vespasian (future Emperor), the 2nd is tasked with subduing native peoples in Britain in the mid first century, AD. Both are in their second seasons of campaigning on the Isle and look forward to the endgame in putting down what appears to be their primary foe in the barbarian Caratacus. Both Cato and Macro end up implicated in the 2nd's failure to contain Caratacus, and find themselves fighting an upstream battle against their superiors in a three-part conflict that's a running theme throughout Scarrow's series: 1) do what's moral and right; 2) do what's proper as a Roman legionary and for Rome; 3) minimize the personal and professional damage while often going against the grain.“Prey” is a fine book…the story moves along swiftly and the characters have that familiarity like a cousin that was close when you were younger but whom you now only see 3 or 4 times a year. That familiarity is borne from their growth throughout Scarrow’s series, but also because their characterizations are a bit flat and predictable.All of the “Eagle” books have a tv-movie feel. Think about the original “Star Trek” or “Star Trek – The Next Generation”…they were both cutting edge in their own rights, but at the end of the day they were built on TV budgets and to fit in TV schedule lengths. Compared against the stronger or newest Star Trek films, they appear a little shallower in production and storyline. Following the analogy, I'd compare of Scarrow’s “Eagle” to TV Star Trek as compared to deeper and more emotive film “Gladiator”.I’ve found that I genuinely enjoy picking up the next story in the ongoing saga of Cato and Macro. I look forward to peeling back the next layer of their personalities, and uncovering the next chapter in their journeys in the Roman Army. Overall, I recommend this book.
After finishing The Eagle and the Wolves I couldn’t wait to dive into The Eagle’s Prey. As with the earlier books, our heroes Centurions Macro and Cato are in England fighting with the 2nd Legion trying to subdue the Celts. Having recovered from their wounds (When the Eagle Hunts) and training local auxilia (The Eagle and the Wolves) our now centurions are now serving in the 3rd Cohort of the 2nd Legion under Centurion Maximius, trying to trap the Celts under Caratacus to end the fighting in England.Over the past few books we’ve seen Cato mature from a bumbling youth who’s book wise but not sure on dealings soldiers to someone who’s starting to accept the mantel of centurion. Because of tensions in the 3rd Cohort, we see Cato’s maturing accelerate like never before. Without Macro’s support, Cato takes control of a unit and leads it where he couldn’t have in earlier books. Complementing Cato’s maturing is that of Macro’s. Macro has been a steady career soldier who often projects a simple look at the world. This time however we see Macro in a different context; his dealings with Centurion Maximius show us that Macro is capable of more than being a simple soldier who stands in the ranks (Centurion Maximius is very reminiscent of Sergeant Major Dagineau or Sergeant Markoff from Beau Geste). This maturing of characters is important since the 3rd Cohort is in a tight position with Centurion Maximius being prepared to put his unit in a bad position for personal glory I couldn’t help but be reminded of Fort Zinderneuf and Beau Geste. I couldn’t help but wonder if Mr. Scarrow was watching one of the Beau Geste movies while developing his book and couldn’t help but put Cato and Macro into a similar pickle. A very solid 4 star book that makes for a good read!
What do You think about The Eagle's Prey (2005)?
-Bordeando el subgénero de la “aventura histórica”.-Género. Novela histórica.Lo que nos cuenta. Tras algo más de un año desde que Claudio decidió invadir y conquistar Britania para la Antigua Roma, los avances romanos no son todo lo rápidos que se esperaba debido a la enconada resistencia de los habitantes a ser romanizados con facilidad. Para destruir las fuerzas de uno de los líderes locales más activos, Carataco, se prepara una trampa en la que los centuriones Cato y Macro tendrán un papel importante, pero las cosas no salen como estaban previstas. Quinto libro de la serie de Quinto Licino Cato.¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...
—Olethros
The invasion of Britain is in the second year and the general is starting to feel the pressure to finish it quickly, especially when an unexpected visitor turns up in Britain. Marco and Cato now back in the legions, after their adventures in the last book, are trying to integrate themselves into their new cohort. Cato is finding this harder than his friend and mentor dus to his percieved lack of experience. The senior centurian in particular seems to have taken offence to Cato joining his cohort. Due to Marcos experience he settles in quicker but still has problem with the centurian. These problems come back to haunt Marco and Cato to the extent that one of them is pushed to run from the Roman army. This leaves them in a posistion where their is only one outcome that will allow them to re enter the army. In this novel you see the darker side of the army and to some extent see how personnal feelings can affect the bigger picture. We also see just how far Marco and Cato will go to ensure that the Roman army is successfull in its invasion of Britain. A throw away comment at the end of the book has much more meaning to our heroes than you will think at the time.
—Steven Hodgson
I picked the book up from a local supermarket not realizing that it is the fifth in a series about the Roman invasion of Britain way back then when Claudius was the Emperor! The author comes to the task from an academic interest in the Romans but writes in a 'Bernard Cromwell' style. It is enjoyable as long as you can accept the Romans are the 'goodies' civilising the barbaric Britons. Caractacus is treated as the courageous giant who is too dumb to accept the advice of the young captured Centurion Cato,the hero of the novel. Barbarian chiefs and kings had only to realise the advantages of an alliance with Rome to save the lives of their people.However a 'good read'that I did not put down until I was finished. Now where are the first four novels in the series?
—Stuart
